I sang at a special memorial service at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, celebrating the life and ministry of Rabbi Albert Plotkin, who was our Rabbi-in-Residence and Old Testament expert. Just a couple of weeks ago, on Sunday 1/24/10, Rabbi Plotkin gave a rousing sermon for us at his “favorite parish”. Re-counting his personal interfaith and interracial actions, including being instrumental in bringing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Phoenix during the Civil Rights Movement, Rabbi Plotkin inspired and moved us to bridge differences and draw communities closer together.
With more than 50 years of spiritual activism in the Phoenix community and across the nation, he was a powerhouse of messages on justice, compassion and peace. As Lent is almost upon us again, it reminds me of the 2008 Lenten educational series where Rabbi Plotkin, Imam Sabahudin Ceman and Bishop Burrill led a discussion titled “The Abrahamic Dialogues” that opened a fantastic open discussion in our community for Jews, Muslims and Christians. In a time when there is so much ignorance between nations and faiths that lead to violence and wars, teaching us of the core principles that will lead us to peace is of utmost importance.
Besides his distinctive laugh, I definitely will miss hearing Rabbi Plotkin voice at the end of a Sunday service closing with the blessing in Hebrew and in English (Numbers 6: 24-26)
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
God bless you, Rabbi Plotkin! Shalom 
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